Kevin O’Leary’s AI Campus in Utah Receives Approval
On May 4, Box Elder County commissioners granted approval for Kevin O’Leary’s 9GW Stratos AI campus in Utah, despite vociferous public protests from numerous local residents.
Summary
- Kevin O’Leary’s Stratos project, a vast 40,000-acre AI campus in Utah, received county approval on May 4, facing significant community backlash regarding water, energy, and environmental issues.
- The campus aims to produce up to 9 gigawatts at full capacity, which is more than double Utah’s current electricity consumption, powered by an on-site natural gas pipeline.
- O’Leary characterized the project as a direct response to China’s construction of 400 gigawatts of AI-capable power in the past two years, emphasizing its importance for national security.
On May 4, Box Elder County commissioners unanimously endorsed the Stratos AI campus, supported by Kevin O’Leary Digital, the infrastructure wing of O’Leary Ventures.
This approval took place amid loud protests from hundreds of residents who shouted “Shame!” when the vote was announced, arguing that they had insufficient time to voice their concerns before the decision was made.
The campus, approved through Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority, covers over 40,000 acres and is projected to reach a generation capacity of 9 gigawatts at full buildout.
The initial phase outlines an output of approximately 3 gigawatts. Kevin O’Leary informed Fox Business that the facility will rely solely on an on-site connection to the Ruby Pipeline, a 680-mile natural gas line running through northern Utah, instead of tapping into the state grid.
China as the stated rationale
O’Leary explicitly highlighted the competitive aspect, stating, “China built 400 gigawatts of new power over the last 24 months, much of which is serving AI data centers.” He emphasized that “We’re in a race with them,” portraying the project as essential for delivering computing power to U.S. AI enterprises and national defense.
Utah’s MIDA reduced Stratos’s energy use tax from 6% to 0.5% and committed to rebating 80% of property tax revenues to attract this initiative. Environmental advocates raised alarms about water depletion issues near the already overdrawn Great Salt Lake and potential shifts in weather patterns.
O’Leary asserted that the facility would implement closed-loop water recycling and air-liquid cooling systems. No major tenant has been publicly disclosed yet. Initial deliveries are anticipated in Q4 2026, with full buildout expected to cover approximately ten years through various phases.